Health & Wellness

Whenever you hear the term ‘well-being,’ what do you think it means? Merriam-Webster’s definition is ‘the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous.’ Some people also like to add ‘having a social life’ into that mix. And while having a social life can make us happy, it can also stand alone in its own category when expressed as, say, being social or being a recluse.

Researchers have studied how important social relationships are, and some results have suggested that strong social relationships are tied to better health and a longer life. When you think about it, having more contact with family and friends will likely include being more active, while not having much contact with family and friends will likely include more sitting or lying around. Additional benefits of having a social life include having people to turn and talk to when life knocks you down and boosting your happiness during times of celebration.

Finding Friends

As nice as it would be to find friends anywhere, anytime, it seems to be more challenging making friends the older we get. Have you ever moved to another state, as an adult, and felt like you had no idea where to begin as far as making friends goes? Luckily there are plenty of ways to meet new people: join a meet up group, attend community events, or sign up to volunteer at an organization. These are just suggestions. Find what works best for you.

Finding Balance

Each individual is different when it comes to finding a good balance for having a social life. You may be satisfied with meeting your girlfriends once a week for dinner, or you may visit your family members three times a week and find that to be plenty of social time because you have a hectic work schedule.

Just remember, having a social life can be beneficial to your health, in so many ways. Nurture your friendships, and you’ll nurture you.

In Season

Summer officially extends well into the month of September, however, as soon as September rolls around, we begin the transition from summer to fall. The long, warm evenings spent grilling on the patio are numbered, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy many favorite summer foods - and to look forward to fall favorites as well.